Closure means for drain tile and the like



Jan. 16, 1968 A. K. ZURCHER ETAL 3,

CLOSURE MEANS FOR DRAIN TILE AND THE LIKE Filed June '7, 1965 414 671/ EPV/A/ ATTOPAZEYS United States Patent 3,363,799 CLOSURE MEANS FOR DRAIN TILE AND THE LIKE Allen K. Zurcher and Ervin C. Loomis, Greene, Iowa,

assignors to Plasta Plug Incorporated, Greene, Iowa,

a corporation of Iowa Filed June 7, 1965, Ser. No. 462,002 Claims. (Cl. 220-42) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Drain tile closure means formed as an inwardly tapering cylinder closed at one end and open at the other and provided with an outwardly extending flange at the larger diameter end. The closure is adapted for insertion into one end of a drain tile so as to frictionally engage the interior wall surface of the tile.

This invention relates to a closure means and more particularly to a closure means for drain tile and the like.

Drain tile is frequently used to facilitate the draining of water from land. The hollow drain tiles are constructed of baked clay which permits water to seep thereinto. The drain tiles are arranged in the desired network or pattern to facilitate the collection and removal of the water from the land such as illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings. The network usually consists of a plurality of drain tile tributaries leading into a main drain tile. The free ends of the various tributaries are open which permits foreign material to enter the drainage system. The system becomes plugged with this foreign material and the system is thereby rendered inoperative.

Therefore, a principal object of this invention is to provide a closure means for drain tilt and the like.

A further object of this invention is to provide a closure means for drain tile and the like which prevents foreign material from entering the drain tile.

A further object of this invention is to provide a closure means for drain tile and the like which is easy to install.

A further object of this invention is to provide a closure means for drain tile and the like which prevents inadvertent removal therefrom.

A further object of this invention is to provide a closure means for drain tile and the like which is slightly compressible to fit variances in drain tile diameters.

A further object of this invention is to provide a closure means for drain tile and the like which is simple in design, economical to manufacture and refined in appearance.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements, and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a network of drain tile in a field or the like;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a drain tile having a closure means inserted thereinto with portions thereof cutaway to more fully illustrate the invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a modified form of the closure means;

FIG. 4 is a bottom elevational view of the modified form of the closure means seen in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the modified form of the closure means seen in FIGS. 3 and 4 inserted into a drain tile with portions thereof cutaway to more fully illustrate the invention;

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of a still further modified form of the closing means;

FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of the modified form of the closure means seen in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the closure means seen in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of the closure means seen in FIGS. 2 and 8.

The numeral 10 generally designates an elongated, hollow drain tile comprised of baked clay or the like and having an exterior surface 11 and an interior surface 13 adjacent its open end. The numeral 15 generally designates the closure means seen in FIGS. 2, 8 and 9 while the numeral 17 designates the closure means seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 and the numeral 19 designates the closure means seen in FIGS. 6 and 7.

Closure means 15 includes a hollow cylindrical portion 21 having an inwardly tapered portion 23 at one end thereof and an end wall member 25 at its other end. The diameter of end wall member 25 is greater than the diameter of cylindrical portion 21 thereby providing a flange portion 27 which protrudes outwardly of cylindrical portion 21.

Closure means 17 includes a tapered hollow cylindrical portion 29 having a flange portion 31 extending radially outwardly therefrom at one end thereof and an end well member 33 at the other end thereof. Closure means 17 is provided with a plurality of cutaway areas or notches 35 formed in flange portion 31 and extending into cylindrical portion 29 as seen in the drawings. If desired, a thing plastic panel could be provided in notches 35 which would permit the closure means to be slightly compressed adjacent its outer end when needed.

Closure means 19 includes a hollow cylindrical portion 37 having an inwardly tapered portion 39 at one end thereof and an end wall member 41 extending across said one end. Closure means 19 is provided with a flange portion 43 extending radially outwardly from its other end as seen in the drawings.

Preferably, all of the embodiments are constructed of a plastic material. As seen in FIG. 1, a plurality of drain tile 10 are positioned in an end relationship in tributaries 45 which lead into a main branch 47. Regardless of the embodiment used, the closure means is inserted into the open end of the outermost drain tile in tributaries 45 and in the outer end of branch 47. The closure means prevents foreign material from entering the system which insures that the drainage system will continue to function efficiently. The closure means can be removed when desired but its frictional engagement with the interior wall surface of the drain tile prevents its inadvertent removal.

With respect to the closure means indicated at 15, the closure means 15 is simply inserted into the open end of drain tile 10 until flange portion 27 engages the end of tile 10. Tapered portion 23 permits the closure means to be easily inserted into drain tile 10. The exterior surface of cylindrical portion 21 frictionally engages interior surface 13 of drain tile 10 to yieldably maintain closure means 15 therein.

Closure means 19 is inserted into drain tile 10 as was closure means 15, the only difference being in the location of the end wall member.

Tapered cylindrical portion 29 of closure means 17 is inserted into drain tile 10 as was closure means 15 and 19. Notches 35 permit the outer end of closure means 17 to be compressed or reduced in diameter (FIG. 5) so that the closure means can adjust to small variances in the drain tile diameter without bulges or buckling occurring in closure means 17 which could effect the seal between closure means 17 and drain tile 10. It is to be seen that notches 35 are forced against interior surface 13 of drain tile 10 which prevents the passage of foreign material into drain tile 10 by way of notches 35.

It can be seen that a novel means for closing the open ends of drain tile has been described which prevents foreign material from entering a drainage system.

Thus it can be seen that the device accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of our closure means for drain tile and the like without departing from the real spirit and purpose of our invention, and it is our intention to cover by our claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included Within their scope.

We claim:

1. In combination, an elongated cylindrical drain element having open ends and a unitary compressible plastic closure means removably mounted in one end of said element and frictionally engaging the said element interiorly thereof, said closure means having a continuous, unbroken inwardly tapered cylindrical wall lying within said element, a transverse wall closing one end of said cylindrical wall, and an outwardly extending flange at the larger diameter end of said cylindrical wall and in contact with the periphery of the drain element.

2. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the transverse wall of said closure means extends across the smaller diameter end thereof.

3. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the flange is an extension of the end wall.

4. A slightly compressible plastic closure means for drain tiles and the like having a hollow cylindrical member with a continuous unbroken inwardly tapering wal portion and a transverse wall portion at one end of said cylindrical portion and a flange member extending outwardly of said cylindrical portion at its larger end whereby said closure means may be inserted within a drain tile in sealing engagement therewith.

5. A closure means as set forth in claim 4 wherein the transverse wall portion is at the end of the cylindrical portion opposite the flange member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1956 Williams 2l547 9/1963 Gray 215--47 

